DE102005034587B4 - Reserve parachute with opening aid - Google Patents

Abstract

Reserve parachute with opening aid, in which the cap (1) of the reserve parachute has a recess (2) above and below an expansion element (3) each have an upper cover (4) and a lower cover (5) supported on the packed reserve parachute , the recess (2) in the reserve parachute is slightly larger than the areal extent of the upper cover (4) of the expansion element (3) and the upper cover (4) of the expansion element (3) to the edge zone of this recess (2) is immediately fixed, characterized characterized in that at the edge zone of the cap (1) of the reserve parachute on its outer side at the recess (2) beginning above closed and downwardly open pockets (7) are placed, and the upper cover (4) of the expansion element (3) via a Securing device of the expansion element (3) in the context of its unfolding is designed removable.

Description

The Invention relates to the design of a reserve parachute, the over a safety device in the form of an opening aid has, after Preamble of claim 1.

Parachutist use one regularly Parachute, a so-called main screen, equipped with relatively large area, allows a safe floating down to the earth's surface. In the event of danger, that is this main screen after leaving the bounce device used not open, is an additional Reserve parachute equipped with smaller area available, the in case of failure of the regularly as Main parachute designated parachute of larger area by parachutist open will or even over controlled by suitable sensors, opens and still in the survival area for the Skydivers located a swirling down the same allows to the earth's surface.

This reserve parachute has to leave its packaging quickly and unfold as quickly to be ready for use and to be able to produce a positive effect for reducing the fall speed of the parachutist. Therefore, at the head of the reserve parachute via a distance line generally another smaller parachute attached, hereinafter referred to as auxiliary screen or pilot parachute, which pulls the reserve parachute from the packaging using the air flow after leaving its packaging and so contributes to its rapid deployment, as the by way of example in the Scriptures US 6,086,019 A is shown. However, there is a risk that the auxiliary shield caught in the havarier th main parachute or entangled with this, which in turn means that even the reserve parachute can not deploy and thus ineffective.

The auxiliary screen is therefore very often already changed so that it is opened by spring force. Here again on the already mentioned writing US 6,086,019 A such as US 2,299,408 A to get expelled.

In order to positively influence the opening of any parachute by the resulting air flow, it is also common to arrange on the outside of a parachute on the Schirmkuppe downwardly open pockets, so that they fill with air through the resulting air flow, a cause increasing flow resistance and thus improve the ability of the parachute to open. Such bags are exemplary in the Scriptures US 6,003,815 A as in EP 0 861 783 A1 shown. They can also be used for control, as in the Scriptures DE 24 57 056 C3 is provided.

The font DE 201 15 499 U1 proposes to use tempered glass fiber rods as opening aid in order to spread apart and tension the cap of the rescue parachute in a very short space of time. Here, the locking of the toughened glass fiber rods is removed via a ripcord, the curved glass fiber rods stretch, lean against the packed reserve parachute and thus ensure the deployment of the parachute dome.

task The invention is the usual reserve parachute to change that way that improved opening ability is given and the risk of non-opening of the reserve parachute eliminated by collision of the auxiliary screen with the main parachute becomes.

The Task is solved by a reserve parachute with the features of claim 1. According to the invention is a Expansion element present, in which above and below, respectively an upper and a lower cover are formed. These covers can also executed in several parts be. The recess in the cap of the reserve parachute is so designed that these are minor is larger as the areal Extension of the upper cover of the expansion element and a free gap possible is kept low, which may also be "zero".

advantageously, this recess is circular executed relatively easy a uniform force input into the upper cap of the reserve parachute.

The upper cover of the expansion element is the edge zone of this Recess immediately fixed. Preferably used to define flexible Elements, however, in the axial direction largely unverlängerbar are, as is the case with a rope or the like. The reserve parachute is so changed, that he is on his outside beginning at the top, closed at the top and open at the bottom Having pockets as they are known in other contexts. These are preferably evenly over the Scope distributed and widening wedge-shaped from top to bottom to its opening educated.

The upper cover of the expansion element is designed removable over a securing device of the lower cover, while the lower cover is designed to support the packed reserve parachute. For the purpose of actuating the securing device, a triggering handle may be formed. alternative The safety device can be mechanically severed by an electronically controlled system.

Opens the main parachute is not or is this only partially functional, will solved the safety device, the expansion element unfolds, the upper cover decreases with the upper part of the reserve parachute, stretch the pockets yourself and fill with correct constructive dimensioning of the individual components to each other very quickly with incoming air. Due to the thus strengthening Resistance is the reserve parachute while avoiding a collision with the damaged main parachute completely out of its packaging pulled out and a delay of The parachutist using the reserve parachute will, like he wishes, for the purpose of survival brought about.

The Expansion element can be a prestressed mechanically constructed Be spring pack and consist of a wound coil spring, the snail-like wound an ever-increasing coil diameter having. Similarly, the use of an equally wound Spiral leaf spring possible. In the relaxed state both have frustoconical contours.

It is also possible as an expansion element an explosive unfolding chemical To provide element.

In both cases can to achieve the deploying effect of the expansion element as a safety device in this a manually operated trigger handle integrated according to the will of the skydiver, who wants to save himself, in action can be set. However, it is also possible as a security device one upon reaching a defined actual fall rate provide responsive sensor. This limit falling speed can also be done on the sensor adjustable be.

For the functioning The invention is relevant to that above and below the expansion element Covers are formed, which are fixed to one another, that the bias in the expansion element is maintained until the safety device over a trigger handle or the like element is solved with identical effect.

While the lower cover rests on the packed reserve parachute lift after pressing the trigger handle or an element having the same effect as that, for example at one on the actual Falling speed responsive sensor is the case, as a result the upper cover with higher Speed off. As this top cover to the edge zone of the recess of the reserve parachute is set, this edge zone at Take off stretched.

By the waiver of a separate flight movements exporting Auxiliary or pilot screen increases the security for the parachutist to be rescued because a snagging or Entangling the auxiliary screen with parts of the damaged main parachute canopy not possible is. Likewise, already existing reserve parachutes can subsequently be retrofitted according to the invention. It exists Clarity about that an exclusively self-acting Equipment in sports is not always desired.

The Invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

In the associated Drawing shows

1 the basic structure of an inventively designed reserve parachute in section.

The cap 1 a reserve parachute has a virtually circular recess in the middle 2 on. In this almost circular recess 2 is an expansion element 3 arranged.

The expansion element 3 each has an upper cover 4 and a lower cover 5 on. At rest, the lower cover is located 5 on the packed reserve parachute cap.

The top cover 4 of the expansion element 3 is about cords 6 corresponding strength with the edge zone of the cap 1 the reserve parachute connected. Their length is such that on the one hand a remaining free gap is low, on the other hand a proper movement of the upper cover 4 given is.

At the edge zone of the cap 1 of the reserve parachute starting on its outside are pockets 7 attached, which are closed at the top and open at the bottom and wedge-shaped. These are even over the circumference of the cap 1 of the reserve parachute distributed.

The expansion element 3 exists between the top cover 4 and the lower cover 5 by way of example from a wound spiral spring 8th , which is biased by compressing all the turns in a plane. Furthermore, the top cover 4 a release handle, not shown, for releasing the securing device. If this is pressed, the between obe cover 4 and lower cover 5 existing lock removed, the coil spring 8th fast with the top cover 4 up and takes the edge zone of the cap 1 of the reserve parachute with. This will stretch the pockets 7 , Due to the fall of the parachutist, these fill with air, the flow resistance increases, which ultimately leads to the reserve parachute safely pulled out of its packaging. In that regard, there is a sufficient delay of the parachutist using the reserve parachute, and he safely slides safely to the ground.

1

cap

2

recess

3

expansion element

4

upper cover

5

lower cover

6

cords

7

bag

8th

spiral spring

Claims (7)

Reserve parachute with opening aid, in which the cap ( 1 ) of the reserve parachute a recess ( 2 ), above and below an expansion element ( 3 ) each have an upper cover ( 4 ) and a lower cover resting on the packed reserve parachute ( 5 ) are formed, the recess ( 2 ) in the reserve parachute is slightly larger than the areal extent of the upper cover ( 4 ) of the expansion element ( 3 ) and the top cover ( 4 ) of the expansion element ( 3 ) to the edge zone of this recess ( 2 ) is fixed immediately, characterized in that at the edge zone of the cap ( 1 ) of the reserve parachute on its outside at the recess ( 2 ) starting at the top closed and downwardly open pockets ( 7 ) and the top cover ( 4 ) of the expansion element ( 3 ) via a securing device from the expansion element ( 3 ) in the context of its unfolding is designed removable. Reserve parachute according to claim 1, wherein the pockets ( 7 ) are wedge-shaped widening towards its opening. Reserve parachute according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the pockets ( 7 ) evenly over the circumference of the cap ( 1 ) of the reserve parachute are distributed. Reserve parachute according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the expansion element ( 3 ) is a biased mechanically constructed Fe derpaket. Reserve parachute according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the expansion element ( 3 ) is an explosive unfolding chemical element. Reserve parachute according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which, in order to achieve the deploying effect of the expansion element ( 3 ) In this for releasing the securing device a manually operated ripcord is integrated. Reserve parachute according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which, in order to achieve the deploying effect of the expansion element ( 3 ) is present in this for releasing the securing means a responsive upon reaching a defined falling speed and the deployment triggering sensor.